Honda Shigetsugu

In this Japanese name, the surname is Honda.

Honda Shigetsugu
本多 重次
Personal details
Born	1529 Mikawa Province
Died	August 9, 1596
Spouse	a daughter of Torii Tadayoshi
Children	Honda Narishige
Nickname(s)	"Ogre Sakuza" "Sakuzaemon"
Military service
Allegiance	Matsudaira clan Tokugawa clan
Rank	Bugyō
Battles/wars	Battle of Azukizaka (1564) Battle of Nagashino (1575) Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584) Siege of Odawara (1590)

Honda Shigetsugu (本多 重次) (1529 – August 9, 1596), also known as Honda Sakuzaemon (作左衛門), was a Japanese samurai of the Sengoku period through Azuchi-Momoyama Period, who served the Tokugawa clan. He served as one of Ieyasu's "three magistrates" (san-bugyō).

Biography

He was known as Hachizo, Sakujuro, or Saemon. Shigetsugu spouse was a daughter of Torii Tadayoshi, and his son was Honda Narishige who eventually became the lord of the Maruoka Domain of the Echizen Province.

Shigetsugu also distinguished himself at Battle of Azukizaka (1564) suppressing the uprising Ikko sect followers in Mikawa Province.

In 1565 he was named one of Mikawa's San-bugyô, or Three Commissioners (along with Amano Yasukage and Koriki Kiyonaga). Shigetsugu was known for his fortitude, Yasukage for his patience, and Kiyonaga for his leniency.

Shigetsugu was a veteran of the Battle of Nagashino (1575), Battle of Komaki and Nagakute (1584) and fought in many of the Tokugawa clan's major battles, and was known as "Ogre Sakuza" (鬼作左, Oni Sakuza) for his ferocity.

At the Siege of Odawara (1590), he intercepted and beat back the naval warriors of Later Hōjō clan led by Kajiwara Kagemune.

Shigetsugu died in 1596 at the age of 68. It is said that he lost one eye and leg from his battle wounds, and he was missing several fingers.

References

• (in Japanese) "Honda Shigetsugu, Narishige Fushi Daijiten" (22 Feb. 2008)
• (in Japanese) "Honda-shi" on Harimaya.com (22 Feb. 2008)